Lions Tour: McRae slams Saracens

Duncan McRae will relaunch his rugby career against the Lions tomorrow after firing a parting shot at Premiership under-achievers Saracens.

McRae quit Vicarage Road last month, and has now resurfaced Down Under, where Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen is closely monitoring the 26-year-old’s progress.

Although the former Canterbury Bulldogs and London Broncos rugby league player is on New South Wales’ books, he will make a one-off appearance for Western Australia when the Lions open their 10-match tour.

Along with nine times-capped Australian prop Patricio Noriega, McRae goes in the shop window alongside a team of local amateurs whose professions range from carpenters to quantity surveyors.

Both McRae and Noriega will feature as second-half substitutes before probably tackling the Lions again, this time in New South Wales colours, on June 23.

But the fly-half, whose one-season Saracens sojourn was highlighted by several impressive displays, admits that he found it a frustrating experience departing the Premiership scene.

An end-of-term exodus saw McRae, English international quartet Dan Luger, Danny Grewcock, Julian White and Tony Diprose, together with Ireland’s Paul Wallace, all leave Saracens.

And McRae believes the club must accept certain responsibility after off-field affairs matched a depressing season finale when Heineken Cup qualification damagingly proved beyond them.

‘‘I am surprised that so many top players have left Saracens - it is particularly disappointing and harsh on the fans,’’ he said.

‘‘The club has to take some blame. They should have got players signed up when they had a year left on their contracts, rather than wait and let things run on.

‘‘Someone like Danny Grewcock is a world-class player that you can base your team around, but he has gone.

‘‘Not to come away with any silverware last season, with the side we had, was very disappointing, but that’s all in the past and I am sure that Saracens are now looking to rebuild.’’

Grewcock, Luger and Saracens’ England flanker Richard Hill will all be in the Lions line-up tomorrow, with McRae believing he can only benefit from such an experience.

‘‘The more exposure I can get against world-class players, the better,’’ he added.

‘‘You look at the names in the Lions squad and it’s outstanding really. There is going to be so much competition for places as the tour develops.

‘‘Look at the second-row, where they’ve got Martin Johnson, Danny Grewcock, Scott Murray, Malcolm O’Kelly and Jeremy Davidson, and all you can do is admire such strength.

‘‘We are under no illusions about Friday’s game - we accept that it going to be an uphill battle for us, but there are a group of guys here who know that to play against the Lions is the chance of a lifetime.’’

McRae and Noriega apart, Western Australia coach Tom Fearn believes that ‘‘two or three’’ of his team could make the huge step up to Super 12 rugby, yet it will be a surprise if the Lions don’t hit at least a points half-century.

‘‘If we can keep them to 40 or 50 points, then I will be happy with that,’’ said WA’s Wales-born skipper Trefor Thomas.

‘‘I think that our fitness levels will be okay for around 60 minutes, but we are hoping that our spirit will see us through and keep it respectable.’’

The Lions worked out at the WACA this morning, where local officials are confident of attracting a 15,000-plus crowd after advance ticket sales smashed previous records.

‘‘I expect a lot from the WA team - pride in the jersey and a lot of passion,’’ said Lions captain Keith Wood, at the helm while Martin Johnson sits out what should be the tourists’ easiest match.

Wood, though, will demand high standards from his star-studded side, relishing the role of leader.

‘‘Captaincy is not something you necessarily wish for, but you are chosen for it, and that makes it an incredible honour,’’ he added.

The Lions are unlikely to let him down during his finest hour.

Expect a points blitz, with rookie full-back Brian O’Driscoll spearheading the onslaught alongside English dangermen Luger, Ben Cohen and Will Greenwood.

O’Driscoll apart though, Lions coach Graham Henry probably won’t learn too much from proceedings.

Next week’s tougher tests in Queensland against a President’s XV and Super 12 outfit the Reds should prove much more revealing.